Milwaukee man accused of stealing $55,000 in power tools

Tools stolen from several cities in SE Wis.

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WAUWATOSA, Wis. - A Milwaukee man wanted for allegedly stealing $55,000 worth of power tools across southeastern Wisconsin is now behind bars.

Kyrus Porch, 43, is charged with seven felony counts of retail theft.

According to a criminal complaint, Porch is responsible for allegedly stealing more than $22,000 worth of power tools from a Wauwatosa Home Depot alone.

"When you see retail thefts up into this dollar amount it's somebody who's clearly been at this for a while,” said Wauwatosa Police Lt. Brian Zalewski.

Zalewski said the store turned over surveillance video that captured Porch allegedly stealing merchandise on seven separate occasions dating back to August.

A security officer from Home Depot told police that Porch allegedly threatened staff several times and “pushed cashier during escape”.

Wauwatosa Police arrested Porch in a Milwaukee alley on January 4. Zalewski said Porch was in the van he allegedly used to commit several of the tool thefts.

"For a retail theft case, this dollar amount is very substantial,” Zalewski said.

Authorties say the case against Porch is expanding.

“This individual has literally been driving around the state committing these retail thefts for an extended period of time,” Zalewski said.

Law enforcement agencies from Franklin, Menomonee Falls, Milwaukee, Oak Creek, Racine, Waukesha, Wauwatosa and West Allis are now involved. Home improvement stores from each jurisdiction claim they have evidence of Porch stealing power tools to the tune of an additional $33,000.

"Investigators from all these different agencies have been working together to put together these felony criminal charges on someone who's been victimizing these stores for at least several months,” Zalewski said.

Porch remains in the Milwaukee County Jail on a $10,000 cash only bond. Wauwatosa police said additional charges could come as soon as next week.

Home Depot declined to comment about the alleged thefts.

Copyright 2016 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.